Cymbidium Culture

Cymbidiums are the most common orchids grown in Victoria. Their popularity is due mainly to the many colourful, long –lived blooms that they produce but also their ability to grow and flower under a wide range of conditions and to survive a degree of neglect that would kill other orchids. However, some attention to cultural conditions is needed if you hope to grow and flower your cymbidium well. Regular watering and fertilising, effective pest control and, most importantly, exposure to the correct light level throughout the seasons, should lead to success.

LIGHT and AIR MOVEMENT
Cymbidiums are best grown in a situation where they receive about half the level of full sunlight for eight or nine months of the year, full sunlight during winter. A shade house covered with shade cloth (nominal shade factor of 50%) is ideal, provided that the house is not overshadowed by nearby trees. Plants will grow almost as well under heavier shade, but they will flower poorly. Cymbidium flower poorly if placed under a tree that casts a heavy shadow – eucalypts are better than most. If possible, place the pots on a raised wire-mesh bench to provide god air circulation ad protection from snails and slugs.

WATERING and FERTILISING
Providing that cymbidiums are grown in an open, free draining potting mix, they can be watered on every sunny day between October to April. Less water is needed at other times, once weekly being sufficient in mid-winter. Liquid fertilisers can be applied at weekly intervals for most of the year. High potassium fertilisers, such as Campbell’s A ®, are recommended for use between August and the end of December and high-nitrogen fertilisers, such as Aquasol® at other times. Apply them at one half of the manufacturers recommended concentration, which seems adequate for most orchids. Slow release fertilisers may also be added in October.

RE-POTTING
Cymbidiums respond well to repotting every two to three years, even if they have not outgrown their container, because pine bark potting mixes decompose after that time, becoming acidic and breaking down to finer material, which interferes with free drainage. October, November and March are regarded as the best months in which to repot. To avoid placing unnecessary stress on your plants, do not repot in very hot weather. Use a plastic pot that is of sufficient size to allow for one or two years growth only. Most orchids, including cymbidiums, do not grow as well if over-potted.
First remove he plant from its pot – it may be necessary to cut the pot open with a sharp knife or pair of secateurs if the plant has not been re-potted for many years. Then remove all the old mix and any soft, dark decaying roots. Always use sterile tools and wash your hands with hot water and soap after handling each orchid to minimise the risk of transferring virus disease from one plant to the next. Re-pot in a commercial pine bark potting mix. Hold the plant so that the bases of the pseudo-bulbs are 25-50mm below the rim of the pot and with the other hand fill the pot with mix, working it between the roots, The final level of mix should just cover the lower quarter of the pseudo-bulbs. Add a slow release fertiliser, such as Osmocote®, (a tablespoonful in a 200mm-diameter pot is sufficient) and tap the pot until the granules make their way below the surface of the mix.

For more information about growing orchids, please see the articles section on the OSCOV articles page